Making the Most of Your Empty Nest: How to Fill Your Time with Purpose

I am happy to present this guest post by Amber Ramsey, followed by comments from a real empty-nester: The Grammar Diva!

Amber is a career woman. She’s fierce, confident, and has the “can do” attitude we all strive for. Like most of us, she started out in the corporate world, but she found that her fire, spirit, and creativity were better suited to the entrepreneurial lifestyle. Amber has been on both sides of the desk, as an employee and the boss, so she has plenty of career advice to share.

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You’ve officially entered the empty-nester phase of your life. This new chapter certainly brings a sense of freedom and excitement, but it’s also normal to feel a little lost after years of focusing on your kids.

Fret not — there’s a myriad of ways to enrich your life while relaxing like never before. 

Organize your important documents.

One thing to tackle at the outset of your empty-nester journey is to sort all your essential documents. This includes medical records, estate planning files, and any other important paperwork you might have. Doing so will give you peace of mind while ensuring that everything is in order for the future.

There are many resources available to help you, from online guides to professional organizers. You can also digitize your documents and put all similar files into a single document. By using a PDF file converter, you can turn your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files into PDFs with a simple drag-and-drop!

Travel somewhere you’ve always wanted to go.

Traveling is always an excellent way to broaden your horizons and experience new things. With your kids out of the house, you now have the freedom to go where you’ve always wanted to go — without worrying about anyone else’s schedule! Whether it’s a cross-country road trip or a European vacation, taking the time to explore new places will certainly add some excitement and fulfillment to your life!

Spend more time with friends.

Your social life may have taken a backseat during your parenting years, but now is the time to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Whether through a weekly book club or a local class, there are plenty of ways to build your social circle. Spending time with like-minded people can give you the sense of community and camaraderie that you may have been missing.

Make your marriage a priority.

You probably have more time to focus on your relationship with your spouse now that the kids are gone. Take advantage of it! Take this opportunity to go on dates, plan weekend getaways, and reconnect in meaningful ways.

It’s also important to communicate with each other about your hopes and goals for this new phase of your life. Making your marriage a priority can create a strong foundation for the years ahead.

Build a garden.

For many people, gardening is perfect for unwinding and getting in touch with nature. Whether you have a small balcony or a large yard, there are countless options for creating a beautiful garden space.

You can plant herbs and vegetables to use for cooking, produce a colorful flower bed, or build a relaxing seating area. Spending time outdoors and working in your garden can do wonders for your stress levels and overall well-being!

Launch a business.

If you’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, now may be the perfect time to launch a company. You could start an Etsy shop selling homemade wares, a consulting business that capitalizes on your years of expertise, or any number of other ideas.

Starting a business can be financially rewarding while also giving you a sense of purpose and fulfillment. And you can take advantage of online courses, networking events, and many other resources designed specifically for entrepreneurs.

Consider forming an LLC for your new business, which yields personal asset protection and limited liability for any debts or obligations arising from your business. An LLC can also provide tax flexibility and credibility (since you’re establishing a separate legal entity). Remember to research and comply with the specific requirements and regulations in your state when forming your LLC, and find a formation service to help.

Conclusion

The empty-nester phase can be a thrilling new chapter full of opportunities. You can make the most of your newfound freedom by keeping your documents organized, traveling more often, prioritizing your marriage, starting a business, and implementing the other tips above.

Remember — this is a time for self-exploration and growth, so don’t be afraid to try new things and pursue your passions. Embrace the season with open arms!

 

Comments by The Grammar Diva:

Organize my documents: Well, the thing about that is you need to keep it up. I cannot remember when I organized my files, but I know it is time to do it again. They are a mess. I also have several other organizational tasks on my list: Organize my will and trust binder. Put things into my safe box. Organize binders for the two organization of which I am secretary of the board. They have been on my list for a while now. Also, organize my office.

Travel: I have definitely not done enough of that, particularly outside of this country. At this point, I need about a three-month around the world tour for all the places I would like to go!

Time with Friends: Being an introvert I don’t have a thousand friends, and I don’t do a lot of socializing in groups except organizations I belong to — and there are several of those. Although I think I have as many friends here in Florida as I did in California (but not as many acquaintances). ever since Covid, I really  got used to staying at home! I got used to socializing on Zoom! 

Marriage: Well, I don’t have one of those.

Garden: Not with my brown thumb.

Launch a Business: Check. Did that one. Successfully accomplished!